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45th Grafton to Inverell - NE
New South Wales, Australia, September 17, 2005
2004 Results Results Past winners
A local win for Health Net as Henderson takes The Grafton
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After a highly successful road season with Health Net/Maxxis in America, 29 year-old New Zealander Greg Henderson has shown his versatility once again, winning the prestigious Grafton to Inverell classic in conditions that were described as the toughest in the 45-year history of the race.
Incredibly windy conditions in the 2005 edition of 'The Grafton' made racing somewhat more controlled than recent years, with the 200-odd riders gathered at the 7.30am start awaiting a block headwind for much of the 228 kilometre route, and was seen by third-slowest winner's time in history.
However, similar to last year, an early breakaway proved decisive as a group of 12 riders left the peloton's grasp shortly after the start, and only eight other riders were to see them before the day's end. This chase group of eight made the junction with the lead group at Glen Innes (70km to go), some 70 kilometres after the KOM at Gibraltar Range, a 17 kilometre-long monster averaging seven percent.
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It was at the final climb of Wire Gully Hill where the winning move was made, as Colombia-Selle Italia's Trent Wilson attacked over the top and took with him four other riders - Greg Henderson (Health Net/Maxxis), Richard Moffat (NSW) and the VIS pair of Simon Clarke (recent overall winner of the Tattersall's Cup Tour of the Murray River) and Mathew Lloyd (winner of last year's Mt Baw Baw stage of the Herald Sun Tour).
The five were still together entering the final roundabout with 600 metres to go, where Moffat took a wrong turn and put paid to his chances of victory. Wilson used the moment of confusion to make his move and started his sprint early, but Henderson was quick to respond, jumping on his wheel with the two Victorians close behind. With 150 metres to go, Henderson then launched his winning sprint, passing a tiring Wilson to claim the win. Clarke was a bike length back in second, closely followed by Lloyd and then Wilson.
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An exhausted Henderson said it was one of the longest and toughest days he had ever endured on a bike. A renowned fast finisher, Henderson was keen to see the race come down the final sprint and said his strategy was simply to cover every move the other riders threw at him. With a winning time of just under seven hours and twenty minutes, Henderson said he looked at his bike computer when they passed the race record time of six hours and was surprised to hear he still had over 60km to go!
Jack Griffin, one of the founders of the event and who had witnessed all 45 races, believed the conditions for the race where the worst he had seen. The race was the slowest since the 1977 Grafton, when Gary Sutton recorded a time of 7 hours 33 minutes.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Ray Phillips/Armidale Cycling Club
- Eugen Schilter (Parramatta) finished 14th in D Grade.
- Lining up at the start in Gradton.
- Some pre-race deals being made?
- Katie Mactier (Carnegie Caulfield) at the start.
- Riders young and old part were part of this year's Grafton to Inverell.
- These blokes won't be laughing at the finish.
- Rolling out for 228 kilometres of pain.
- Jennifer Manefield (Paramatta, L) finished fifth in the women's race.
- The bunch already strung out.
- Graeme Pont (Central Coast) was 17th in C Grade.
- Vicki Kennedy (Port Macquarie) was the last of the female finishers, coming home in a time of 8 hours and 10 minutes.
- Megan Wilkie (Illawarra) also did it tough in the women's race, taking 7 hours and 40 minutes.
- Some D Grade riders lose contact with the bunch.
- Joel Byrnes (Armidale CC) didn't quite have the legs to make it to Inverell.
- Joel Byrnes (Armidale CC) finds a group to sit on.
- The forests of Jackadgery.
- Riders cross over the Jackadgery Bridge.
- John Corbett (Manning Valley) finished 11th in D Grade.
- His club-mate Mathew Camilleri (Manning Valley) finished 24th in C Grade.
- Note the sign to the left: "Falling rocks - do not stop". Good advice.
- Climbing the lower slopes of Gibraltar Range.
- Not a good sign - Gordon Coon (Ffast Cycle Club) sees the bunch disappear.
- Morning tea time for Kim Crockart (Ffast Cycle Club).
- Is Jay Post (Armidale) really suffering that bad?
- Clinton Amble (Ffast Cycle Club, front L) finished 28th in C Grade.
- C and D grade riders unite in an effort to make it to Inverell.
- It's a long way to the top, if you want to make it to Inverell.
- Jennifer Manefield (Paramatta) on her way to fifth place in the women's race.
- Jemma O'Brien (Eurobodalla) had a great ride to finish third.
- Katie Mactier (Carnegie Caulfield) benefited from racing the Tattersalls Cup series of races to finish as the second-best female rider.
- Katie Mactier (Carnegie Caulfield) rides against the a typical northern NSW backdrop.
- A common sight at the Grafton - small groups working together with a common goal: to finish.
- A welcome sight at the Grafton - the finish!
- Australia's version of the Hawaiian Ironman - everyone's a winner.
- The A Grade podium - (L to R) Matthew Lloyd (St Kilda, 3rd), Gregory Henderson (Health Net pb Maxxis, 1st) and Simon Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield, 2nd).
- Greg Henderson (Health Net pb Maxxis) accepts his prize.
- Greg Henderson (Health Net pb Maxxis) struggles to put on the winner's jersey after a tough day at the office.
- It's a stick-up.
- Simon Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield) gives his version of events.
- Scarred for life? Greg Henderson (Health Net pb Maxxis) said afterwards he's not sure if he'll come back to the Grafton after this year's experience.
Results - 228 km
A Grade 1 Gregory Henderson (Health Net pb Maxxis) 7.19.56 2 Simon Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Matthew Lloyd (St Kilda) 4 Trent Wilson (Parramatta) 5 Richard Moffatt (Wagga Wagga) 0.10 6 Peter Dawson (Peel Districts) 1.01 7 Peter Milostic (Penrith Panthers) 8 Russell Van Hout (Adelaide) 3.31 9 Peter Herzig (Uni Cycle Club) 10 Joe McDonnell (Sutherland Shire) 11 Klayten Smith (Clarence St) 12 Ben Brooks (St George) 3.57 13 Allan Sieper (Canberra) 10.02 14 Richard Vollebregt (Southern Highlands) 21.14 15 Nathan Rollason (Randwick Botany) 50.45 16 Brendan Jones (Parramatta) 17 Nathan Page (Randwick Botany) DNF Aaron Little (Tamworth) DNF Patrick Shaw (Ballarat/Sebastopol) DNF Andrew Wyper (Bankstown Sports) DNF Stephen Blair (Canberra) DNF Stephen Isbel (Canberra) DNF Sean Finning (Castlemaine) DNF Bradley Mills (Clarence St) DNF Glenn Stojanow (Clarence St) DNF Grant Webster (Echuca/Moama) DNF Ben Vanderkamp (Ffast Cycle Club) DNF John Ebeling (Hunter District) DNF Joshua Wall (Illawarra) DNF Luis Trueba (Macarthur Collegians) DNF Luke Dale (MTBA) DNF Brent Skippen (Parramatta) DNF David Whyman (Randwick Botany) DNF Bradley Norton (Shepparton) DNF Mark Frendo (Uni Cycle Club) DNF Matthew Newlands (Victor Cycle Club) DNF Richard Munro (Kooragang Open) DNF Jai Crawford (Hobert Wheelers) DNF Jonathon Coulter (Victor Cycle Club) DNF Daniel Furmston (Hobert Wheelers) DNF Robert Lyte (Bankstown Sports) DNF Stephen Rossendell (Hobert Wheelers) DNF Brad McCreadie (Peloton Sports) DNF Mark Dipplesman (Murwillumbah) DNF Joshua Wilson (Launceston City) B Grade 1 Tim Davis (Northern Rivers) 8.20.43 2 Brian Gaffney (Hunter District) 3 David Evans (Eastern Suburbs) 0.27 4 Craig Taylor (Ipswich) 5 John Baxter (Eastern Suburbs) 2.55 6 Christopher Young (Parramatta) 2.45 7 Ian Walker (Gold Coast Goldstars) 8 Brenton Bruce (Tamworth) 9 Jon Guy (Lifecycle Cycling Club) 10 Tom Brooks (Parramatta) 11 Spencer Flugge (Bathurst) 12 William Hall (Parramatta) 3.42 13 Morgan Pilley (Byron Bay Freeriders) 6.16 14 Nicholas Ockhuisen (Sunshine Coast) 15 Owen Belton (Manning Valley) 16 Craig Paull (Illawarra) 14.23 17 Brenden Egan (Murwillumbah) 22.56 18 Patrick Hayburn (Clarence St) 24.15 19 Peter Sully (Peloton Sports) 59.53 DNF Mathew Shaw (Bicisport) DNF Matthew Ryan (Ffast Cycle Club) DNF Will Grey (Gold Coast Goldstars) DNF Malcolm Haigh (Orange) DNF Patrick Brothers (Parramatta) DNF Sebastian Lambooy (Sunshine Coast) C Grade 1 Paul Logan (Coburg) 8.21.10 2 Anthony Osbrough (Hobert Wheelers) 1.40 3 Brian Crawford (Kooragang Open) 2.18 4 Darren Byers (Victor Cycle Club) 5 Brett Lambkin (Kooragang Open) 6 Anthony Green (Parramatta) 3.15 7 Brett Newton (Inverell Wheelers) 8 Ian Lovell (Hunter District) 9 Istvan Szebenyi (Clarence St) 10 Scott Callum (Eastern Suburbs) 5.49 11 Mark Bown (Sunshine Coast) 12 Peter Scotton (St George) 13 Neil Soden (Gold Coast Goldstars) 14 Jason Theobald (Bathurst) 15 Michael Hoynes (Inverell Wheelers) 16 Adam Shepard (Sydney) 17 Graeme Pont (Central Coast) 18 David Dobinson (Ipswich) 19 Graeme Muston (Peel Districts) 13.56 20 David Wighton (Sunshine Coast) 21 Phillip Knowles (Manning Valley) 23.48 22 Ross Cattle (Sunshine Coast) 23 Paul Amidy (Hunter District) 24 Mathew Camilleri (Manning Valley) 32.10 25 Mick Patton (Sunshine Coast) 26 Vaughan Caseley (The Riders Club) 27 Tony Mills (Rockhampton) 28 Clinton Amble (Ffast Cycle Club) 29 Adam Robinson (Hamilton Pine River Wheelers) 30 David McDonald (Port Macquarie) 31 Michael Croft (Southern Off Road) 32 Garry Reardon (Grafton) 33 Gary Land (MTBA) 45.43 34 Ian Gillott (Uni Cycle Club) 58.02 35 Roger Hawley (The Riders Club) 1.00.19 36 Ed Knowles (Sutherland Shire) 1.04.31 37 Kim Crockart (Ffast Cycle Club) 1.27.08 38 Bryan Ferris (Hamilton Pine River Wheelers) 1.27.09 39 Paul Gleeson (Uni Cycle Club) 40 Michael McCall (Murwillumbah) 1.37.45 DNF David Leckenby (Coffs Harbour) DNF Alan Bozunovic (Eastern Suburbs) DNF Craig Dempsey (Eastern Suburbs) DNF Rodney Van den Heuvel (Ffast Cycle Club) DNF Arie Hendriks (Gold Coast Goldstars) DNF Gary Wardrop (Gold Coast Goldstars) DNF Fraser Chapman (Grafton) DNF Jeffrey Gray (Illawarra) DNF Richard Dodds (Sydney) DNF Gerald Todd (The Riders Club) D Grade 1 Daniel McGuigan (Bicisport) 8.23.51 2 Manueal Katsiaris (Eastern Suburbs) 3.08 3 Michael Lawson (Manly Warringah) 4 Chass Matters (Victor Cycle Club) 11.15 5 Graeme Sonter (Hunter Valley Vets) 6 Gregory Walmsley (Dulwich Hill) 21.07 7 Peter Kent (C.R.A.B.S.) 8 Michael Sparke (Brunswick) 29.29 9 Fred Landon (Peel Districts) 10 Frank Day (Northern Rivers) 11 John Corbett (Manning Valley) 12 Philip Cook (Northern Rivers) 13 Anthony Chapman (Rockhampton) 14 Eugen Schilter (Parramatta) 15 Glen Ingram (Sutherland Shire) 59.50 16 Stephen Murray (Gunnedah) 1.01.50 17 Jay Post (Armidale) 1.09.29 18 Hans Visch (Eastern Suburbs) 1.09.36 19 Craig Briant (C.R.A.B.S.) 1.17.00 20 John Solah (MTBA) 1.36.37 DNF Joel Byrnes (Armidale) DNF Roelof Burger (Bicisport) DNF Wayne Brien (Byron Bay Freeriders) DNF Blane Crozier (C.R.A.B.S.) DNF Brad Gooda (C.R.A.B.S.) DNF Mark Stapleton (Central Coast) DNF Charles Frost (Clarence St) DNF Stephen Carson (Copper Citty) DNF David Gerrish (Dubbo) DNF Simon Meredith (Dubbo) DNF James Fowler (Dulwich Hill) DNF Alan Sumner (Dulwich Hill) DNF Anthony Goostrey (Ffast Cycle Club) DNF Robert Carlyon (Gunnedah) DNF Maurice Mathe (Hunter Valley Vets) DNF Paul Harmon (Inverell Wheelers) DNF John Osbrough (Ipswich Amateur) DNF Simon Sandral (Ipswich Amateur) DNF John Nicholls (Murwillumbah) DNF Ross Hodgson (Northern Sydney) DNF Peter Brown (Port Macquarie) DNF Karl Bellamy (Randwick Botany) DNF Ricky Jordan (Randwick Botany) DNF Rex Wilson (Randwick Botany) DNF Harry Berkery (Sutherland Shire) DNF Richard Watson (Toowoomba) DNF John Lindsay (Victor Cycle Club) DNF Mark Winn (Victor Cycle Club) DNF Peter Coleman (Waratah Veterans) DNF Gordon Coon (Ffast Cycle Club) Women 1 Laura Bortolozzi (Randwick Botany) 6.00.57 2 Katie Mactier (Carnegie Caulfield) 12.48 3 Jemma O'Brien (Eurobodalla) 4 Kate Charge (Lidcombe Auburn) 5 Jennifer Manefield (Parramatta) 6 Leonie Aisbett (Illawarra) 25.31 7 Elizabeth Hayman (Canberra) 26.51 8 Megan Wilkie (Illawarra) 1.39.03 9 Vicki Kennedy (Port Macquarie) 2.09.03 DNF Jessie MacLean (Canberra) DNF Yoko Okuda (Gold Coast Goldstars) DNF Jane Despas (Sydney)
Past winners
2004 P. McDonald (NSW) J. Libonatti (Uru) R. Vollebregt (Caravello Team) 7.03.00 2002 L. Godfrey (VIC) P. Redenbach (VIC) T. Wilson (NSW) 6.44.58 2001 D. McKenzie (VIS) P. Milostic (NSW) D. Pell (VIC) 6.22.40 2000 B. Day (QLD) H. Vassen (NSW) D. Mungoven (ACT) 6.33.09 1999 J. Drew (VIS) S. Williams S. Gerrans 6.26.45 1998 B. Brooks (NSW) S. Williams (NSW) H. Bradbury (VIC) 6.45.41 1997 J. Drew (VIS) D. McKenzie (VIS) B. Litchfield (Turra) 6.35.04 1996 D. Forster (VIC) D. Smith (Vic) C. Saunders (NZ) 6.54.19 1995 T. Christopher (ACT) W. Kestle (Vic) C. Saunders (NZ) 6.24.36 1994 C. Saunders (NZ) D. Forster (Vic) P. Rugari (Vic) 6.37.55 1993 S Drake (Vic) D Perry (NSW) T Jordon (NSW) 6.32.30 1992 B J Shearsby (Vic) G Wilson (Qld) M Elliot (Qld) 7.00.43 1991 Stephen Fairless (VIC) Justin Grindal (VIC) Scott Steward (VIC) 6.59.43 1990 Nigel Perry (NSW) Glen Wilson (QLD) David Perry (NSW) 7.01.33 1989 Nate Reiss (USA) Ewe Winter (W/Ger) John Groom (Aust) 6.39.23 1988 G Luc Pierobon (Italy) B St George (Aust) R McCorkell (Vic) 6.39.23 1987 A Peterson (Norway) T Durst (W/Germany) T Mancini (Swiss) 6.19.53 1986 A Logan (NSW) I McKenzie (NT) S Sunderland (NSW) 6.37.27 1985 P Curran (Gt Britain) M Ansermet (Swiss) L Wahlkqvist (Sweden) 6.00.49 1984 M Lynch (Vic) E Poli (Italy) R Crossley (Qld) 6.44.52 1983 R McCorkell (Vic) M Lynch (Vic) C Walsh (Qld) 6.32.14 1982 S Cox (NZ) J Swart (NZ) B Stockwell MBE (NZ) 6.24.35 1981 A Gill (SA) G Oliver (NSW) G Brooks (Vic) 6.24.37 1980 W Hammond (Vic) G Hammond (Vic) M Blyth (NSW) 6.47.05 1979 G McVilley (Tas) V Hanaray (NZ) M Nicholls (NZ) 6.43.46 1978 R Piper (NSW) H Berkery (NSW) M McKinnell (NZ) M Wilson (Tas) 6.37.47 1977 R Glindeman (Qld) G Stone (NSW) R McCorkell (Vic) G Sutton (NSW) 7.33.00 1976 R Sansonetti (Vic) A Spokes (NSW) G Parkes (NSW) 7.19.34 1975 R Hines (NSW) T Parkes (NSW) M Glindeman (Qld) 6.38.21 1974 B Ferris (Qld) R Bates (NSW) K Bartlett (NSW) T Parkes (NSW) 7.18.77 1973 V Breen (NSW) P Brown (NSW) L Roe (NSW) A Spokes (NSW) 6.35.08 1972 K Brindle (NSW) M Kautto (NSW) K Bartlett (NSW) L Cooper (NZ) 6.51.34 1971 R Bush (NZ) R Davis (NZ) M Kautto (NSW) J Trevorrow (Vic) 7.03.33 1970 D Strahley (NSW) E Wixon (Qld) T Moore (NSW) J Trevorrow (Vic) 7.57.08 1969 B Ryalls (Qld) P Littlejohn (NSW) D Thompson (Qld) 6.44.44 1968 K Morgan (Tas) D Browne (NZ) T Savimaki (Qld) 6.23.21 1967 D Wilson (Vic) K Brindle (NSW) D Garrett (Qld) 6.53.54 1966 M Redman (NSW) B Johnson (NSW) P. Markham (NSW) T Savimaki (Qld) 6.57.57 1965 L Cook (NSW) R Barron (Qld) T Moore (NSW) D Wilson (Vic) 6.36.02 1964 J Ferranda (NSW) N McDonough (NSW) K Long (Vic) V Adams (NSW) 7.04.10 1963 N Burnell (NSW) H Summers (Vic) C Kruf (NSW) J Lloyd (NSW) 7.23.23 1962 P Chapman (NSW) G Brown (NSW) F Fransen (NSW) J Lloyd (NSW) 7.19.41 1961 A Grindal (Vic) G Garden (NSW) T Tolley (NSW) 7.39.11 *(Record)
